Spiral tool-driver



' F. BOOTH.

SPIRAL TOOL DRIVER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1a. [918- 1,330,053. Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I F. BOOTH.

' SPIRAL TOOL- DRIVER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, I918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Qwwwtoc Patnted Feb. 10,1920.

I Patented Feb. 10,1920.

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FREDERICK BOOTH; OF LABORTE,INDI ANA.

SPIRAL TOOL-DRIVER.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK Bfoorn, a

V citizen of the United Stat-es residing at Laporte county of Laporteand State of Indiana, have invented certain new and use:-

ful Improvements in Spiral Tool Drivers, otwhich the following 1s a specfication.

Thls invention relates to tool drivers of the class in which a chuckcarried on the. end

ofa spindle and adapted" to receive tool bits is rotated by thereciprocation of the handle in which the spindle is carried-,. and morethe kind shown inmy prior particularly to United States Patent No;1,183,426 of 16,1916, in which a suitable gear wheel is" secured to thespindle. and i'srotated through engagement with a stationary rack withinthe handle portion of the tool. In devices as disclosed in my priorpatentthe spindle may be rotated in but a single direction, but in mypresent invention provide a novel ratclietsneans by which the directionof rotation may be reversed or the spindle may be held again-st rotationin either di rec-tion; a

A further object of the invention" is to provide means for chan'gingthedirection of rotation of the spindleirrespective of therelativepositionof the spindle inthehandle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool of this kindwhich may be locked at will in extended or retractedposition and be-used as a ratchet or rigid toolf, whereby the use of the tool underdiiferent conditions maybe more convenient.

H'eretofore in toolsof this kind wherethe direction of rotation of thespindle-maybe varied it has ordinarily been necessary to provide thespindle with oppositely inclined threads or grooves collars or sleevesinthe tool handle relatively st'at'ionary thereto and having means forengaging the grooves to impart I motion to the-spindle; Such tools areprovided with a suitable pawl or'pawls'for'locking'one of the collars tothereby effect rotation of the spindle in the: desired direction; Expertence 1n connection; with the use of devices asshown in my prior U. S.patent" above" referred to-has shown that the eflicien'cy. of the toolis increased wherezu stationary rackis-- secured in-the-tool handle and'the gears for rotating the spindle are mounted on the spindle andreciprocate with the spindle relatively to the=handle.

Specification-1 of'Letterss Patent.

and to provide rotatable Patented Feb. to, 1920;

Application filed June 15, 1918. Serial No. 240,189.

According to my present inventionytherefore', I' provide a suitabletubular handle portion of desired length in which is fastened arackhaving oppositely inclined teeth therein. Guided in a bearing at oneend of the tubular handle and having its inner end provided with asuitable bearing adapted to engage the inner walls of the tube is aspindle, the outer projecting portion of which is provided wlth a chuckfor receiv-,

ing suitable tool bits, as screw drivers and drills; Near the inner endof the spindle and rotatably mounted thereon are two gear wheels"adapted to engage the oppositely inclined teeth of the rack whereby theyare rotated upon the reciprocation of the rack. A suitable clutch memberis provided whereby the motion of either one of the gears may beimparted to the spindle or whereby both may be held immovable relativelyto the spindle at the same time to prevent the spindle from beingrotated within the handle. Suitable means extending substantially thelength ofthe tubular handle is provided for operating the clutchmechanism irrespective 'the'tool spindle may be locked in eitherextreme-position and still be used as a ratchet tool.

Referringnow to the accompanying drawingsz- Figure 1 shows an elevationof my tool. Fig: 2 shows a longitudinal section of the tool.

Fig. '3 shows a transverse section on line 3-3 01? Fig. 2*. I

Fi t shows a transverse section on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig 5' shows a transverse section on line 5-5 01? Fig. 2;

Fig; 6 shows a transverse section on line 66-ofllig. 2.

Fig; 7 shows a transverse section on line 7-70f Fig; 2.

Fig; 8 shows a transverse section correspendin to Fig. 7 but showing theshifting mec anism moved to inoperative position.

Fig. 9 shows a transverse section on line 99 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 shows a transverse section on line 1010 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 shows a transverse section on line 11-11 of Fig. '2.

Fig. 12 shows a transverse section on line 12 12 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 13 shows an inverted perspective view of the slide for effectingthe movement of the clutch mechanism.

Fig. 14 shows in detail one of the gear wheels and the ratchet by meansof which motion is imparted to the spindle.

Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of the tubular handle.

ing secured therein a metallic casing coma prismg a tubular portion 2adapted to carry Fig. 16 represents in perspective a portion of a barextending substantially the length of the tubular handle for effectingthe movement of the shifting mechanism.

Fig. 17 represents a transverse section therethrough. Fig. 18 representsa portion of the casing. Fig. 19 shows on an enlarged scale part of. theshifting mechanism.

Fig. 20 shows in detail the slide for moving the locking mechanism.

Fig. 21' shows a spring employed in the locking mechanism while Fig. 22represents the locking plate.

Fig. 23 shows a detail view of an oil. pad. Fig.'24 represents an endview of a washer in the casin Referring now more particularly to theaccompanying drawings I have shown a handle 1, which may be of anydesired construction, but preferably of wood, andhavthe tool actuatingmechanism. Adapted to work in the handle and casing is-a spindle V 4carrying a tool holding chuck 5 of any suitable construction on itsouter end. The

spindle is of substantially the same diameter throughout the greaterportion of its length and is supported in the outer end of the tube 2 bya cap 6 in which is a ball bearing 7. Separated from the ball bearing7'by a plate 8 is a felt oil and dust collecting pad 9. The cap 6 ispreferably provided with a washer 10 having an opening 10 having aresilient closingflap 11 preferably formed integrally therewith, wherebythe snout of an oil can may project therethrough. Secured within thecasing 2 is a rack 12' having oppositely inclined teeth orspiral-threads.

V The inner end of the spindle is guided by two bearings 14 and 15, seeFig. 2. The

bearing 141' is on the extreme inner end of the spindle, while thebearing 15 is spaced somewhat farther along toward the middle thereof.Each of these bearings comprise lateral motion of the spindle isentirely pre- Figs. 2 and 10).

7.5 vented. The ball spacers 17 do not extend entirely around. the ballrace but project tangentially to engage the sides of the rack, see Figs.3, 9 and 10, whereby they are prevented from rotation. Projectingfronitlier o ball spacers 17 are lugs 19, preferably two; lugs beingprovided on'each spacer (see 7 Carried by the ball spacer 17 is a feltoil pad 13 for keeping the balls 1 and the interior of the tube oiledand for collecting particles of grit that may work into-the tube. Thesepads are held in place byvplates l3. I

The spindle rotating mechanism is disposed between the two sets of ballsand comprises two oppositely threaded o1- toothed, spaced apart spiralor helical gear wheels A and B mounted to freel rotateon the B,and'there-by be made to transmit rotary motion of the gears A or B tothe spindle.

- The ratchet wheels are normally held out of contact with the pawls Aand B by coil springs pushing against the ends of the gear wheels A andB and the colla 23 on ratchet wheels A and B It may thus be seen that bybringing the pawl A into engagement with ratchet wheel A and rotatr' inggear A by reciprocating the handle and the rack relatively thereto thespindle 4: may

be rotated in one direction when the handle is pushed toward retractedposition, the pawl and ratchet teeth preventing the rotation whenthehandleis being moved to extended position. During this time the I B willrotate freely. By bringing pawl B into engagement with ratchet B therotation of the spindle is reversed. If A and 'B --are engagedsimultaneously with tl1eir re- 1 25 handle,las in the well known typesof ratchet screw drivers now in commercial use.

For moving the ratchets as desired, I have provided .a shifting device25 carried by the spindle but having a limited sliding movementrelatively thereto. This shifting mechanism comprises two similarsections 26 and 26 secured together (see Fig. 2). Each section, as shownin Fig. 19, consists of a single piece of thin resilient metal having abase portion 27 corrugated at 28 to make that portion of the baseelastic. It is against the spring portion 28 that ratchets A and B moveduring the movement of the handle in one direction. On one end of thebase is a disk shaped end 29 at right angles to the base and having anopening therethrough through which the spindle 4 ispassed, It isprovided with inturned edges 30 adapted to hold a felt or othersuitableoil pad and dust collector 31 (see Fig. 23), which pad coming in contactwith the rack keeps that member and both spirals well oiled. Theopposite face of the disk portion 29 is adapted to bear against thecollars 23 of ratchet wheels-A or B The opposite end of the base portion27 of each section is bent angularly to form a spring portion 31 whichsupports the vertical part 32. The top of the part 32 is rovided with asharp projecting lug 34. T

gether in any suitable way (see Fig. 2). The shoulders 35 on thevertical ends 34 are adapted to be normally held in one of the annulargrooves a, b, or 0 in the spindle 4 between the two gear wheels A and B,by

the upward pressure of the spring31 of each section. Disposed betweenthe two ends, 29 and 34 is a curved arm 36 having projections 37 thereonand bearing against the walls of the tubular casing 2, by which theshifting mechanism is held in-proper position in the tube. Alongitudinal projection 38 is pro vided on the curved arm 36 and has alug 33 thereon for engagement with the gear A or B to regulate thesliding movement of the shifting mechanism. It will-be seenthat bypressing down on lug 34 shoulder 35 may be disengaged from the groovesa, b and 0 on the spindle 40 as indicated in Fig. 8 and the shiftingmechanism may be moved in the desired directionwhereby the ratchetwheels A and B may be moved into and out of engagement with the drivingpawls A and B. For instance, if'shoulder 35 is e vertical parts 32 ofeach section adjacent to each other are'secured to throughout'the majorportion of the length of the tube 2 and having depressions 39 at eachend. There is also provided a second slot 40 of comparatively shortlength. A ribbed strip 41 is provided in slot 38 and is slidablysupported therein by springs 42 secured to either end thereof and havingtheir free ends resting in thedepressions 39. This strip 41 is providedthroughout its length with serrations or teeth. Secured to the strip 41is a plate 44, as shown in Fig. 13, which plate is provided with lugs 45and a projection 46 on the upper surface thereof. The project-ion 46 ispreferably roughened as indicated in order that it may better be movedby the thumb or finger. of the operator. For protecting the exposedparts of the strip 41 and plate 44, I have provided a second plate 47 asshown in Fig. 18, which is'adapted to be secured to the tube 2 in anysuitable manner, and which has a longitudinally extending portion 48covering the exposed portion of the slot, and a laterally projectingpart 49 covering the shorter slot 40. A portion of the plate 47 abovetheplate 44 is pressed outwardly and is provided with a slot 50'throughwhich projection 46 extends. Onthe interior of the raised portion aresecured strips 51 having recesses a, b, 0 therein- These recesses are soformed that thelugs 45 on the plate 44 may be normally pro ectedtherein, in

which position they are normally held by the springs 42 on the strip 41.By pressing down on the projection 46 the lugs 45 are length of thestrip41, it will be seen that the shifting maybe accomplished irrespective ofthe relative position of the handle and the spindle. At the same timethe relation between the shifting device and the sliding plate 44 isalways maintained, the positions ct, b, c ofthe shifting devicecorresponding to positions a, b, c of the sliding plate, so

that, for instance, when the lugs 45 on the sliding plates are in therecesses a the shoulrecess a on the spindle.

As it is often desirable to use a screw, driver as a ratchet toolwithout any possibility of having a relative longitudinal movementbetween the spindle and thehandle, either when the spindle isinprojected der 35 of the shifting device will engage the or retractedposition, I have provided'means independent of the ratchet mechanism forsecurely locking the spindle in either of these.

positions. These means preferably comprise a plate 52 having inwardlyturned lugs 53 (see Fig.22) supported above the slot 40 in the tube 2 bymeans of a flat'spring 54 (see Fig; 21). As shown in Fig. 10 thls springnormally keeps the plate 52 from projecting the lugs 53 through the slot40. Mounted in the plate 47 is a slide 55- (see Fig. having a projectingportion 56 extending through a slot '57 in-the plate 47. The slide 55has a sloping portion 58 adapted to engage the plate 52 to force thelugs 53 throughthe slot when the slide is moved to locking position.When the lugs 53 are projected through the slot 40 into the interior ofthe tube 2 and the spindle is in retracted position they will engage thelugs 19 on the ball-spacer 17 of the ball bearing 15. If, however, thespindle is in extended position the lugs 53 will engage the lugs 19011the ball bearing 14. In either instance, however, it will be seen thatthe longitudinal moveme'nt of thespindle will be prevented with outinterfering with the ratchet mechanism.

lVheniit is, desired to release the locking mechanism, the slide ismoved in the opposite direction and .the plate 52 returned to its normalposition by the action of the spring 54L The slide is preferablyprovided with a rounded end portion '60 forming a head which normallyengages a recess 61 or.

61 to hold the slideagainst movement. From the foregoing it will be seenthat I have provided a tool" which is practically dust. proof and whichis provided with oil 1.;In a tool, the combination of a spindle casing,a rotary spindle mounted to, move into and out of said casing, and meansfor locking sa1d spindle 1n either its inner or;

outerposition without interfering with the rotation thereof.

2. In a tool, the combination of a spindle casing, a spindle mountedtomove into and out of said casing, a plate having lugs nor.-

mally out of engagement with the spindle, anda slide for-moving saidlugs into operative engagement with the'spindle to lock same in eltherits inner or outer position.

carry dirt into the 3'. Ina tool, the combination of a spindle casing, aspindle mounted to move into and out of said casing, means for rotatingsaid spindle, and means for lockingsaid spindle in either its inner orouter position, said locking'means permitting rotation of the spindle. 1

4. In a tool, the combination of a spindle casing, a spindle mounted tomove into and out of said casing, ratchet mechanism controlling therotation of said spindle in either direction, and independent lockingmeans nism for holding the spindle in either its inner or outerposition. p

5. In a tool, the coinbination of a spindle casing, a spindle mounted tomove into and out of said casing bearings on ings, locking meansnormally *outof en 'gagement with sa1d lugs, and meansfor moving saidlocking means into engagement withthe lugs whereby the spindle may belocked in either its inner'or' outer position.

6. A tool, comprising a spindle casing, a rack having oppositelyinclined teeth dis-' posed longitudinally in the casing, a spindlemounted to move into and out of said casing, oppositely rotatable gearson imparting the rotation of-the gears to the spindle...

7. A tool, comprising hollow spindle casing, a rack bar havingoppositely inclined teeth disposedlongitudinally in the spindle casing,'a spindle mounted to'movefinto and out of said casing, gear wheels onsaid spindle having oppositely arranged teeth for en: gagement with saidrack bar, means for imparting thefrotation of either one of said gearsto the spindle, shifting means cooperating with the spindle rotatmgmeansfor permitting rotation of the ratchet mechag said spindle and movable'therewitln'lugs on said bear- V 7 said spindle adapted to engage sa1drack, and means for rotating thespindle in the desired direction, andmeans for'movmg the shiftlng means" irrespective of the position of thespindle in the casing. I Y

8. A'tool,'comprising a spindle casing,a

rack having oppositely inclined teeth disposed longitudinally in thecasing, a spindle mounted to move into and] out of said casing;

gears having oppositely inclined teeth on sa1d spmdleadapted to engagesa1d rack whereby they: are rotated in opposite direc-- tions, and meansfor imparting the rotation of either one of the gears to the spindle forrotating the spindle. Y Y l 9. A tool,- comprising a spindleicasing, a

' rack having oppositely inclined teeth disposed longitudinally in thecasing, a spindle i mounted to move into and out of said casing, gearshaving. oppositely said spindle adapted to 1 engage said rack wherebythey are rotated in opposite direcinclined teeth on.

tions, and means'for imparting the rotation j of either-one of the gearsto the spindle for rotating the spindle or for simultaneously bringingboth gears into'operative engagement with the spindle to hold'thespindle from rotation. 10. A tool, comprising aspindle casing, a rackhaving oppositely inclined teeth in the casing, a spindle mounted tomove into and out of said casing, gears having oppositely inclined teethon said spindle adapted to engage said rack whereby they are rotated inopposite directions ratchet means for imparting the rotation of thegears in a singledirection to the spindle, and means for moving thegears into and out of driving con nection with the spindle.

11. A tool, comprising a spindle casing, a rack having oppositelyinclined teeth in the casing, a spindle mounted to move into and out ofsaid casing, gears having oppositely inclined teeth on said spindleadapted to engage said rack whereby the gears are re tated in oppositedirections, means for imparting the rotation of either one of the gearsto the spindle, and means for moving the gears into and out of drivingrelation with the spindle irrespective of the position of the spindle inthe casing.

12. A tool, comprising a spindle casing, a rack having oppositelymelined teeth in the casing, a spindle mounted to move into and out ofsaid casing, gears having oppositely inclined teeth on said spindleadapted to engage said rack whereby the gears are rotated in oppositedirections, ratchet means for imparting the rotationof either one of thegears to the spindle, and means for moving said'ratlchet means into andout of driving relation with the spindle irrespective of the position ofthe spindle in the casing.

13. A tool, comprising a spindle casing, a rack having oppositelyinclined teeth in the casing, a spindle mounted tomove into and out ofsaidcasing, gears having oppositely inclined teeth on said spindleadapted to engage said rack whereby they are rotated in oppositedirections, ratchets for imparting the rotation of either spindle, meansfor moving the ratchets into and out of driving relation with thespindle, and an oil pad carried by said moving means. 1

14; A tool, comprising a spindle casing, a rack having oppositelyinclined teeth in said casing, a spindle mounted to move into. and outof said casing, two gear wheels having oppositely inclined teethmounted, on said spindle and adapted to engage said rack whereby theyare rotated in opposite directions, ratchets for imparting the rotationof the gears in one direction to the spindle, shifting means for movingsaid ratchets into and ontof engagement with the gears and means formoving said shifting means irrespective of its position in the spindlecasing. 15. A tool, comprisinga spindle casing, a

of the gears to the ing elastic portions whereby the ratchets are heldin yielding engagement with the gears. '16.,A tool comprising a spindlecasing, a rack having oppositely inclined teethvdisposed longitudinallyin the casing, a spindle mounted to move into and out of said casing,two gear wheels on saidspindle having oppositely inclined teeth adaptedto engage said rack whereby the gears are rotated in oppositedirections, ratchets for imparting the rotation of the gears in onedirection to the spindle, shifting means carried by the spindle formoving said ratchets into and out of operative engagement with thegears, and means for locking the shifting means in any one of threedesired positions whereby the spindle may be rotated in the desireddirection or may beheld against rotation.

17. A'tool, comprising a spindle casing, a rack having oppositelyinclined teeth disposed longitudinally in the casing, a spindle mountedto move into and out ofsaid casing, wo gear wheels on said spindlehavingoppositely inclined teeth adapted to engage said rack whereby thegears are rotated in opposite directions, ratchets for imparting therotation of the gears in one direction to the spindle, shifting meanscarried by the spindle for moving said'ratchets into and out ofoperative engagement with the gears, means for locking the shiftingmeans in any one of three desired positions whereby the spindle may :berotated in the desired direction or may be held against rotation, andmeans for disengaging said shifting means from the locking means andmoving it to either of the other desired positions irrespective of theposition of the spindle in the casing. we

18:. A tool, comprising a spindle casing, a rack having oppositelyinclined teeth disposed longitndinally in the casing, a spindle mountedto move into and out of said casing, two gear wheels having oppositelyinclined teeth on said spindle adapted to engage said rack whereby thegears are rotated in opposite directions. ratchets for imparting therotation (of the gears in a single direction to the spindle, shiftingmechanism carried by the spindle for movnism, irrespective of theposition of the spindle in the casing, means for limiting the movementof the shifting mechanism, and means for holding the shifting mechanismin the desired position.

.19. A tool, comprising a'spindle casing, a rack having oppositelyinclined teeth in the casing, a spindle mounted to move into and out ofsaid casing,'two gear wheelshaving oppositely inclined teeth on'saidspindle and adapted'to engage said rack'whereby theyare rotated inopposite directions,'a ratchet for engagement with each of said gearsfor imparting the rotation of the gears in one directionto the spindle,and shifting mecha- V I nism for movingsaid ratchets into and out ofengagement with the gears irrespectiveof theposition of the spindle inthecasing.

20.- A tool, comprising aspindle casing, a rack having oppositelyinclined teeth disposed longitudinally in the casing, a spindle mountedto move into and out of said casing two gear wheels having oppositelyinclined teeth carried on said spindle and adapted to engage said rackwhereby they are rotated in opposite directions, a ratchet forengagement witheach of said gears secured to the spindle whereby therotation ofthe gears in one direction may be imparted to the spindle,shifting mechanism for moving said ratchets into and out of engagementwith the gears, a lug on said shifting mechanism, a stripextending'substantially the length of the casing and having teeththerein for engagement with thelug of the shifting mechanism, means'fornormally holding said strip out of engagement with the lug, and meansfor moving said strip into engagement with the lug for moving theshifting mechanism.

21.- A tool, comprisinga spindle casing, a rack having oppositelyinclined teeth disposed longitudinally in the casing, aspindle mountedto move into and out of said casing, two gear wheels having oppositelyinclined teethcarriedonsaid spindle and adapted to engage said rackwhereby they arejrotated in opposite directions, a ratchet forengagement with each of saidgears secured to the spindle whereby therotation of the gearsin one direction may be imparted to the spindle,shifting mechanism for moving said ratchets into and out of engagementwith the gears, means for holding said shifting mechanism in any one ofthree desired positions, a strip slidably mounted in said casing andextending substantially the entire length thereof, means on said stripfor engagement with said shifting mechanism for effecting its movementto any of the threedesired positions means for holding said stripnormally out of engagement with the shifting mechanism, and means forholdingsaid strip in any one of: three desired positions correspondingto the position posed longitudinally in the casing, a spin' dle mountedto move into and out of said casing, gears on said spindle adapted to.en-

gage said rack, each of said gears having oppositely disposed .teeththereon whereby they are rotated in opposite directions, ratchets forengagement with each 'of said gears for imparting the rotation of thegears in one direction to thespindle, shifting mechanism for moving saidratchets into and out of engagement with the gears, means for holdingsaid shifting mechanism in any one of three desired positions, a

slide for efi'ecting the movement of said shifting means, and means forholding the slide in any one of three desired positions, saidpositionscorrespo'ndingto the positions of the shifting mechanism.

23. A tool, comprising a spindle casing, a rack having oppositelyinclined teeth in the casing, a spindle. mounted tomove into and out ofsaid casing, gearing on the spindle for engaging the rack and impartingmotio to the spindle, and a ball bearing on the end 'of said spindle,said ball bearing comprising a ball race secured to the shaft androtatable therewith, a ball spacer moving with said 7 ball race andhaving means for preventing its rotation, balls carried in said ballspacer, and a felt pad surrounding the ball spacer.

24:. A tool, comprising aspindle casing,-a rack insaid casing, a spindlemounted to move into and out of said casing, aballbearing disposed onthe inner end of said'spindle adapted to engage thewalls of the caslng',V

' a similar ball bearing on the spindle having aspaced relation to thefirst bearing, and gearing. disposed between the bearings forengagementwith the rack and imparting rotation to the spindle.

25.- A'tool, comprising a spindle casing, a rack in .said casing, aspindle mounted to move into and out of said casing, a ball bearingdisposed on the inner end of said spindle adapted to engage thewallsofthe casing, a similar ball bearing on-the sp indle having a spacedrelation to the first bearing, gearing disposed between the bearings forengagement with the rack and imparting. rotation to the spindle, lockingmeans in said casing adapted to engage said ball bearings, and means forprojecting the locking mechanism into and out of the path of thebearings. 1 f

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. i r FREDERICKBOOTH.

' Signed as witnesses:

- CHARLES W. HARRISON, OHESTER BUNTON.

